Match Preview: Newcastle v Manchester City

By Anthony Marshall - Newcastle United Managing Editor

Newcastle United entertain Manchester City in the Barclays Premier League on Sunday afternoon at St. James' Park (2.05pm kick-off).

The teams go into this fixture in contrasting fortunes, with the Magpies having lost their last three games but big-spending City on a typically-impressive run of form which sees them currently challenging for the title.

It is the third time the sides have met this season, and the Citizens already have two victories to their name. They were 4-0 winners at the Etihad Stadium on the opening weekend of the league campaign, while Newcastle took them to extra-time in the Capital One Cup in October, before slipping to a 2-0 defeat.

STAT ATTACKSunday's meeting is the 169th match between the clubs, and the 156th in the league. City are unbeaten in 14 games against United, winning 12.

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Manchester City - Yaya Toure is set to shrug off an ankle problem and Jesus Navas will feature despite a knee injury but the game could come too early for Sergio Aguero. Stevan Jovetic and Jack Rodwell (both hamstring) are also missing.

A WORD FROM BOTH CAMPSAlan Pardew, Newcastle manager: "They're a great team. They've probably got, in world football, the best number nine in the business at the minute in (Alvaro) Negredo. They've got strength eveywhere and it's a game that they should win, make no mistake about it. But you could argue that about Man United and Chelsea when they came to our place. We can put in a performance that can upset the top teams and that's what we need to do."

Manuel Pellegrini, Manchester City manager: "It will be a real fight because when they lost against Arsenal two weeks ago they were playing very well. In the FA Cup they lost against Cardiff but I'm absolutely sure, playing at home, they will be a very difficult team."